辯護士
변호사
辯 (eloquence) + 護 (to defend) + 士 (scholar)
📖 Origin of the Hanja
The hanja "辯" depicts two contenders (辛+辛) with words (言) between — discerning right and wrong by speech. "護" depicts a hand setting things free. Combined: "scholar who protects through argument". The 1905 Lawyer Act made it official in Korea — earlier called "辯士" (advocate).
"辯護士 protects people through speech — truth lives not in silence but in clear argument."
